Spida Retires

[Nico]

Whether you like him or not as a person and a player surely you can see the value he can add by helping out with the young ruckmen coming through? There is no doubt in my mind he is one of the best tap ruckman that has ever gone around, and surely he has plenty to offer in this capacity.

Mcs I can't see him being any value. Our clearance work has gone backwards since he has been at the club. He just taps the ball anywhere and all I see of his value to us has been making a contest. We lost the game in the midfield and surely any Swans supporter who watched the game last night must been have incresingly frustrated as the Bullies slaughtered us at centre clearances and around the ground. It was 47 to 26 clearances at half time.

All his centre bounce second efforts were bumbling and fumbling attempts to smother the ball. Can anyone recall more than the very rare secondary clearance kick by him. Grundy would have been a far better option in the ruck last night.

Why would you pay him $100 grand to teach players to tap the ball (reports show Currie already has that talent) and I haven't seen him place himself in too many advantageous positions around the ground in the past 2 years like Jolly does. I reckon Jolly has done a great job given the little or no support he has had for 2 years.

[top40]

I bemoan the obvious fact that we got Spider a year too late.

There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that if Spider had played for the Swans in 2006 we would have won back to back premiership.

Shame on you Hawthorn!

Spider had a good 2007. Unfortunately, he was a year too old in 2008.

[Chow-Chicker]

Count me as one who offers no congratulations or sings any praise for his ineffective time at our club. Don't know what anyone can see as a positive from his time as a list clogger.

[Donners]

Spida had some very good games for Sydney, granted not the same impact with Hawthorn but fill a void nicely between the retirement of Ball anf the next generation.

The void is just as great now as it was then. There are no proven options ready to step up.

[Nico]

The void is just as great now as it was then. There are no proven options ready to step up.

You are right Donners and sure we have Currie coming on but no one else. I'm buggered if I know why Jessie White wasn't persisted with. He seems to have paid the ultimate price for one exuberant act, that changed the rule but condemned him to trivia night fame. Surely he would have added some pace and a contest as compared to Everitt.

If we don't draft a ruckman from the U18 comp then we have rocks in our heads. There is an upper age ruckman named Renton at the Eastern Ranges who seems to be a barometer to their form. When he plays he invariably is their best or close to and they usually win.

[Jeffers1984]

We definitely need to recruit a ruckman with a late pick. Most likely a 20 year old from the VFL ala Mott.

We can't be banking everything on an ex Rah rah and Volleyball player as back ups to Jolls and Currie.

White will have to be groomed as a KP forward next year as there is simply no one coming through to fill the gap in 2010 when Magic and Hall pull up stumps.

[HAWKS HEROES]

if he stays he will be a good rucking coach which roo's would be silly not to ask him to stay and fill that role or help with that role

[2005]

Im also one who is glad Spidas done with.

Generally dont like being to negative , though Spida was a gumby this year. He gave nothing on Game days and last night just was the icing on the cake . Would of been handy when Ball retired on 06.

[mcs]

Mcs I can't see him being any value. Our clearance work has gone backwards since he has been at the club. He just taps the ball anywhere and all I see of his value to us has been making a contest. We lost the game in the midfield and surely any Swans supporter who watched the game last night must been have incresingly frustrated as the Bullies slaughtered us at centre clearances and around the ground. It was 47 to 26 clearances at half time.

All his centre bounce second efforts were bumbling and fumbling attempts to smother the ball. Can anyone recall more than the very rare secondary clearance kick by him. Grundy would have been a far better option in the ruck last night.

Why would you pay him $100 grand to teach players to tap the ball (reports show Currie already has that talent) and I haven't seen him place himself in too many advantageous positions around the ground in the past 2 years like Jolly does. I reckon Jolly has done a great job given the little or no support he has had for 2 years.

fair point. I wouldnt pay him 100 grand to do it either to be honest. But I wouldnt think he would be full time either. I do think he has something to offer, but I can understand why some are hesitant too.

[Bas]

White? As another example of a ruckman past his use-by date?

The team didn't help. If he stays for two years and we pick him up with last pick or pre-season pick. Better value than ala Mott 20 yr old.

[Robbo]

It was a mistake to recruit Spida, just a knee jerk reaction to Cox smashing Jolly and Doyle in the 06 GF.

Let's face it he was pretty poor for us. He was good at St.Kilda though

[sprite]

I'm betting 20 cents that we go for Jeff White as fill in.

He has bought a house in Qld, so cross him off

[dimelb]

Back on subject, Congrats on a great career Spida... Pity none of those good games were with the Swans.

We really did get him a year too late. The year before and it would of made a differnce. Yet another reason to barrack for anyone but the Hawks next weekend....

Jeff White anyone?

Rather put the work into Jesse than the money into Jeff.

[BSA5]

Recruiting Spida was not a mistake. He was great in 2007. Injury struck him down this year. But aside from all that, without Spida in 2007/8, we never would have been able to take a punt on Currie as a bottom age player. We would have been forced to recruit a ready-made but less talented ruckman. Also, since he arrived at the club, Jolly's performance has increase dramatically. Coincidence?

I'm perfectly happy with what Spida has given us, and I dearly hope he stays at the club.

[Donners]

The team didn't help. If he stays for two years and we pick him up with last pick or pre-season pick. Better value than ala Mott 20 yr old.

Actually, Mott was an excellent tap ruckman. Were it not for his attitude, he would still be at the club today.